Meeting the Family [Fuuko]

[Satoshi Fuuko]

Fuuko flashed another fang at Kimyou when Iroka's birth was explained. "Stop calling Iroka-chan thing." Fuuko warned. She looked at Iroka. "So, what? You were built inside a lab instead of a vagina?" Fuuko surmised. "Are you a mod soul?" Fuuko raised her eyebrow. "Or somethin else?" Fuuko glanced at Kimyou. Fuuko closed her eyes and rubbed her head. "As long as there isn't a standing order to terminate you, then I don't really care how ya came into this world and..." Fuuko lowered her head. "Even if there was... How could I turn you in? I'd be as shitty as this one." Fuuko said and motioned to Kimyou. "Even if we didn't pop out of the same hole, we're more connected than if we had." Fuuko paused. Suddenly a tinge of guilt ran down her spine. She hadn't meant Kazu, but as soon as the words came out of her mouth, his face came into her head. She clenched a fist and tried to push the thought away. Kimyou was doing a good job of that. 

Fuuko tilted her head as Kimyou lectured her. She blinked and scratched her boob. She wished she had brought cigarettes. "Yer logic is flawed. If the strong only ate the weak, then there would be only strong, and then the strong would turn on themselves and then there would be the weak again. In this world, there's only room fer one, lonely strong person sittin on a meaningless throne with no one ta brag to." Fuuko shook her head. "I am strong so that  I can protect the weak from those who think of them only  as meals. Besides, so i can punch a hole in a wall, there's plenty Iroka-chan can do that I can't. If yer lookin at me as the champion of the strong, then you don't know shit! Heh. I'm just a big, dumb oaf, who likes ta fight!" Fuuko grinned. 

"Heh. Yer right. If Sis wasn't here, I'd just beat ya up until ya talked and I ain't gonna do that unless she gives me the word and she probably won't because she cares about you even though you treat her worse than shit! I don't get it, but that's how she is. She would do anythin for anyone because she has a bigger heart than anyone I have ever met outsidea maybe my lil brother. How the fuck your  cranky ass managed to make someone like her is fuckin mind boggling. I bet it keeps you up at night that you managed to make someone so pure and innocent. What was she supposed  to be? A killin machine? Your personal assassin? Doesn't that go against yer lil eat the weak philosophy?" 

Fuuko's eyes narrowed. "She's part of the Yonbantai and she's already one of their best healers. She patches assholes like me up so we can keep slammin our heads into brick walls without worryin about the consequences. Honestly, I'm really fuckin surprised yer not one of those everythin in its place kinda Squad 12 weirdos. Your endgame was shit if you ended up here anyway. And don't you worry, I'm not that good. If any of us should worry, it's Iroka-chan, but you'd probably be happy to see her choke." Fuuko turned her head and spit at the slab. "That's what makes me sick." 

Fuuko looked at Iroka and ran her hand up and down Iroka's back gently, trying to keep Iroka calm. "But... all of this..." Fuuko said, motioning to the drab confines of the Maggot's Nest. "Couldn't have been your endgame. For someone who's supposedly smart, how the fuck did ya let them put you here? There's got to be somethin you miss, even if it's clearly not Iroka-chan." 

Munemasa Iroka

[Munemasa Iroka]

Kimyou sat up when Fuuko warned her against calling Iroka a thing, instead of a person. "Why should I?" the pink-haired Shinigami asked with a sneer. "She's a laboratory experiment gone wrong, due to the stupidity of my former colleague..." there was a self-aware pause, "...and maybe to a much lesser extent, my own hubris." Unfortunately, whatever thoughts of self-failing that had been in Kimyou's head temporarily, vanished like a mist under hot sun, as they turned a gaze dripping with sheer disgust towards Iroka. "If I had just allowed Seireitei to destroy you, you ungrateful brat, I wouldn't be here."

At the question of whether Iroka was a mod soul or not, she turned to look at her friend, uncertainty on her face. "I-- I don't think so. I'm not sure what I am, maybe some sort of biological robot or something" she answered. "But... thank you. You've no idea how much your words mean to me, Oni-chan." Kimyou scoffed and rolled their eyes at their daughter's words, and made their face a disdainful caricature while pretending to talk to no one in particular. While this would have been a merely puerile gesture, what made it a bit disturbing was the absolutely unnatural way Kimyou's jaw bones temporarily reconstructed beneath their chin to exaggerate their features.

The pink-haired Shinigami waited in silence for Fuuko to finish talking, then said, "Is it wrong to want to be that one lonely person on the throne above all things? I don't care about bragging rights. I don't care about proving myself to anyone. All I care about is attaining that top position. All I care about is proving myself to me!" There was a silent pause. "Turns out though that I shall never attain my dreams. Because in the end, nothing can beat the hand of fate. Fate accords to everyone their destiny in life, and there's nothing we can do about it. Your desire to protect the weak is a waste of your talents. You were born strong. Exploit it."

Kimyou's jaw worked again, exhibiting motions that the human jaw should not be capable of. Now it gave them a more masculine look, as their jaw was more square. "I'm not so much of a failure as to make something with such a critical mental failure as Iroka," they answered. "So, you don't have me to thank for her being so defective. Fate dealt me a rough hand in giving me such useless material to work with. She was supposed to be a killing machine alright, the first of a series of elite shock troops for the Gotei 13. That would increase Shinigami life expectancies and improve our supremacy across the realms. No one understands genius these days."

Iroka's parent stretched. "As for why I'm here, it is wrong of you to think I was thrown in here because I'm not smart. But I cannot get out. I have no 'endgame'. Fate has stripped that from me. Yes, I miss many things, but it doesn't matter. It is like the baboon that wishes for the moon. There is wisdom in avoiding wishful thinking. But as you are so curious as to know why I am here, it is because I had no one to share my lofty dreams with." Iroka cleared her throat carefully. "I don't dare to presume to correct you, Mother, but maybe things would have turned out better for everybody if you had cooperated with Kajiya-dono..."

The speed with which Kimyou leaped off the stone slab at the mention of the name 'Kajiya' alarmed Iroka into silence, and as the pink-haired Shinigami rounded up on their daughter, she quietly shrank behind Fuuko, gently clutching at the fabric of her friend's shihakushou, as she hid herself from the wrath of her parent. With the look of crazed rage in Kimyou's eyes, it would not be an exaggeration to assume that they would attempt to bite Iroka's throat and rip it from her slender neck, if they could lay their hands on her. But on seeing that Fuuko had been placed between them and their target, a look of fear crossed their face, and then they turned and slouched back to the slab, lying on it and turning their back to the Yonbantai Shinigami.

"I'm sorry, Mother. It wasn't my intention to offend you." No response. "I'm also sorry, Fuuko-chan, that you had to see all this. Mother does not often stay angry for long, but I always forget to not offend them. If Mother does not disapprove, perhaps I can tell you of the story of my life, as you deserve to know how I came to be, and perhaps help me figure out what exactly I am." Kimyou grunted derisively. "If you tell it well, I may even answer your questions," they said, still lying with their back turned. Iroka stepped out from behind Fuuko and gestured to a nearby stone seat. "Would you like to hear a story?"


Satoshi Fuuko

[Satoshi Fuuko]

Fuuko was having a hard time with Kimyou, that was for sure. Her fist tightened and her eye twitched as she leered at what came out of the shinigami's mouth. "Iroka-chan is a lotta things, but I could never call her ungrateful. How the fuck could you? She's wasted too much effort trying to beg for even a scrap of anything from you, even though she shouldn't. I don't think she's owed you shit for some time now. Nor do I think there's anything she could do to make you think she was grateful. So why should she keep tryin?" 

Fuuko's teeth grinding was almost audible as she suffered through Kimyou's monologuing. "Iroka's smarter than you are." She said finally. "You don't have the intelligence ta see past numbers and formulas, I bet. Everything is either tangible or worthless. It either fits in the spot its supposed to or should be rejected but Iroka does have a spot." Fuuko said and looked at her. "She is... exactly what ya wanted her to be. You just can't see it because she doesn't do it in the way you envisioned." Fuuko lowered her head and put a hand on Iroka's shoulder. "She will absolutely  extend the lifespans of shinigami and, unfortunately, she's a real killer." Fuuko squeezed Iroka's shoulder. "I think you just can't live with an invention that isn't perfectly yours. You're a hypocrite speaking outta both sides of yer mouth. You do have somethin ta prove ta someone... Otherwise... you would have worked on making yerself powerful enough ta get inta Squad Zero and then, I dunno, figured out how to be Soul King or some shit." Fuuko shrugged and spat. The words left a bitter taste in her mouth. 

Then, another name came up and Iroka shrank as fast as Kimyou grew, but Fuuko's hand was ready to snatch Kimyou by the throat and spike them back on the sitting slab if they threatened to bypass Fuuko. She postured and eyed Kimyou back down onto the slab and then glanced back at Iroka. "Yeah, of course I'd like to hear. Isn't that why we're down here?" She said and then looked at Kimyou. "But, if your mother threatens you like that again, I can't say I won't be forced to hurt your feelings by beating the shit outta 'em." Fuuko hissed. 

Fuuko raised an eyebrow and then grinned. "In fact." With a deft movement, she guided Iroka to the sitting slab and simultaneously yanked Kimyou off it. She then plopped down on the ground and yanked Kimyou up to a sitting position next to her. "Why don't we give Iroka the stage? Too bad we ain't got popcorn, right?" Fuuko said and nudged Kimyou with an elbow and grinned. 

Munemasa Iroka

[Munemasa Iroka]

From Kimyou's look of shock and displeasure, it was obvious that they were not used to having people lay hands on them. Still, there was very little Kimyou could do; Fuuko was much stronger than they were. Even though the pink-haired Shinigami didn't think too highly of their daughter, they were quite afraid of antagonizing Fuuko, especially as she had mentioned that she was willing to beat Kimyou up, whether Iroka pleaded against this or not. In any case, the facial expression reminiscent of putting a pug's gall bladder in one's mouth was enough to show what was on Kimyou's mind. They muttered something incoherent, but remained seated beside Fuuko.

With the attention on her, Iroka suddenly looked unnerved. "This is intense!" she exclaimed, covering her face with both hands. "I've never been good at public speaking, Oni-chan. But... this is my parent and my best friend, so should I call this public?" As the carrot-top rambled to herself, Kimyou gave Fuuko a sidelong glance, and then made a show of yawning. They did not feel it wise to make any disparaging comments, though. There was, after all, no rule that prevented people in the Nest of Maggots from getting beat on.

"Yes!" Iroka shouted so suddenly and abruptly that even Kimyou started. "I'm ready. So, about a dozen years ago, two amazingly brilliant scientists decided to take up a project that would build an army of lifeless cannon-fodder foot soldiers for the Gotei 13. Similar to what mod souls were, but differing in that mod souls are technically alive, and even now, many Shinigami consider the mod soul purge to have been rather unethical. These foot soldiers would be simply like battle robots, without consciousness or personality. But to do this, they needed to first design a prototype.

The prototype was to be called the Ichidaime Rōdō Kara, the First Generation Labor Shell. Exactly as the name implied, it was merely to be a shell, suited to accomplishing the drudgery of Shinigami labor, in other words, fighting, surveillance and patrol. But that name, though good for a working title, was too long to easily flow into conversation. As such, the first syllables of the name were used to form an acronym: Irōka, which doesn't mean anything really, but was close enough in pronunciation to the word, 'Iroka'. And so the project was nicknamed IROKA."

The carrot-top took a breath, calming herself as she began to feel nervous due to the attention she was receiving. "Problems began to arise concerning Project IROKA, though. The two lead scientists on the project, Kimyou-sama and Kajiya-dono, did not see eye to eye, and kept falling out mostly because each suspected that the other would plagiarize their work and pass it off as original stuff. And so, not only did they each try to outdo the other, but they also refused to share information, which meant that it was like two different people working individually on a single project and merely giving each other correspondence.

The most interesting thing was-- ah? I forgot something important," Iroka said, tapping her chin. "Kajiya-dono was an expert in creating a computer's soul, while Kimyou-sama is unparalleled in bio-modification and creating artificial shells and prosthetics." Kimyou gave an unconscious nod, apparently pleased with the description they had been given. "So, to use human parlance, Kajiya-dono was to create the 'software', while Kimyou-sama would create the 'hardware'." Kimyou grunted. "'Hardware' and 'software'. Is that what humans call such things?" It was evident that despite being a genius, Kimyou didn't foray much into the human world.

Iroka, delighted that she could provide information to her parent, nodded enthusiastically. "As far as computing is concerned, yes! Humans make very impressive computers. Did you know that the 'Soul-Phones' that Shinigami use to communicate nowadays were said to have been inspired by human telecommunication devices?" There was a strange look in Kimyou's eye, very much like a look of longing. "Did you by any chance bring one of those here?" Iroka's face fell. "I'm sorry, Mother. I took mine apart some days ago, and it's become something entirely different now."

Kimyou scoffed. "Typical." They seemed to have forgotten that a story was being told. If anything, Kimyou seemed almost as easily distracted, if not just as easily distracted, as their daughter.


Satoshi Fuuko

[Satoshi Fuuko]

"You got this, Sisi!" Fuuko cheered and then glanced at Kimyou. Fuuko wasn't usually one to use her strength to bully people clearly weaker than her, but it was nice to see the bully get bullied, even if Fuuko really wasn't doing too much. She listened intently to everything Iroka had to say. It was interesting, but also disappointing, in some ways, as well as ... a little confusing. Fuuko glanced at Kimyou and looked at her. "Maybe ya shoulda played nice. Maybe then Iroka-chan woulda been more like ya wanted her ta be. Then again, I think she's great." Fuuko said to Kimyou. 

"Ha, so yer name is just an acronym, huh? Where did the last name come from? I would guess..." Fuuko put a finger to her lips, mostly for show. "I bet it's Kajiya's family name." Fuuko said aloud and looked at Kimyou. "The old hag here is too much of an egotist ta put their name on anythin that ain't perfect in their eyes." Fuuko guessed. "And I bet the other one woulda done it outta spite if they got no love en em either." She narrowed her eyes. "But.. they do, don't they?" Fuuko said to Kimyou. "Cause Iroka got it from somewhere and she sure as shit didn't get it from you, ya old crone!" 

Fuuko's eyes flickered delightfully. "Ha! How long ya been stuck here? Computers have been a thing fer a while in the Living World! Heh. You nerd types get too caught up in yer own shit ta realize just lookin outside from time ta time might be inspirin!" Fuuko shook her head and clucked her tongue. She glanced at Iroka when the exhange came up about the phone, though. "Yeah, it's a real pain in my ass!" Fuuko shook her head again. "She just takes things apart with no regard for anythin! She had ta send me a damn Hell Butterfly just ta get me to come here!" 

Fuuko looked at Iroka."We should just get our living arrangements settled together. That way you can just tell me in person what ya need! Though, I'd be pissed if ya broke all my shit!" Fuuko said mulling over the pros and cons of living with Iroka. "Speaking of..." Fuuko said and pulled out her Soul Phone. She made an obnoxious effort of opening and closing it loudly and inspecting it and trying to get it to make noises even though it didn't have a signal here. 

"This what yer lookin for?" Fuuko asked.   "I bet someone like you  could do a whole lot with it, huh?" Fuuko then tucked it deep into the cleavage of her ample chest. "Givin it to ya is probably illegal, I'd imagine. Well, I don't think we were quite done, though. Were we Sis? I don't think we got to the part where they threw Obaasan in jail. Or, hey? If Iroka-chan is my sister, does that make you Okaasan? Otousan? Heh. Keep the name. I already got an Auntie. Iroka has much more of a use for all that formal bullshit. Anyway..." Fuuko said, looking to Iroka. "Is that it?"

[Munemasa Iroka]

Fuuko seemed curious to know where Iroka had gotten her surname from, though she guessed it was Kajiya's. Kimyou just sat and stared stonily at some nondescript area in front of them, as the blonde Shinigami gave her reasons for thinking so. "I don't think 'Munemasa' was Kajiya-dono's family name, ne?" Iroka said thoughtfully as she tried to remember a few details. "Or maybe it was, but I never heard him referred to as Munemasa. He died before I was... born, so to speak, and so I really can't say who bore the name. I do know that it was the only personal name aside Kajiya-dono's that appeared in Kimyou-sama's journals which the Gotei 13 found when they apprehended my parent."

When Fuuko berated Kimyou for sticking their nose too deep into their work to know what was going on in the world around them, the pink-haired Shinigami stuck up their nose into the air. Literally. A dramatic and rather comical reaction. There did seem to be a subtle shift in Kimyou's body language though, when Fuuko mentioned that Iroka had a habit of taking things apart almost compulsively. It seemed that their earlier scoffing at Iroka's confession to wrecking her phone was because they had assumed it was a once-in-a-lifetime event. Kimyou lowered their jaw slightly, observing Iroka with a thoughtful expression, as Fuuko talked about rooming with their daughter.

When the blonde Shinigami pulled out the Soul Phone, Kimyou's eyes gleamed with obvious interest. For some reason, Fuuko's theatrics with her phone seemed to work, at least if her intention was to make the pink-haired Shinigami interested in the device. They stared at it almost hungrily, as though a lot of things were going through their mind regarding all the things they could probably do with the Soul Phone, or more accurately, all the things they could convert it into, or scrap it to build, if they laid hands on it. As Fuuko commented on how she imagined Kimyou could do a lot with the phone, the incarcerated Shinigami muttered, "you have no idea."

Fuuko's mocking question about whether Kimyou would be her mother or father as she considered Iroka her sister were met with a scoff. "Not like I'd even want to be related to someone as unintelligent as you--" they shot back, but Fuuko was still talking. Iroka, for her part, did not answer Fuuko's question, as she rounded on her parent, even though her body language and manners were still very polite. "Fuuko-chan is a lot smarter than she looks, Mother," the orange-haired girl protested. "Did you know that on the mission during which I first released my Shikai--"

Kimyou cut her off with a surprised expression, "Never mind that! You have a release?!" Iroka nodded. "That is... unexpected..." the pink-haired Shinigami said introspectively, and then fell silent, alone with their thoughts. Iroka looked in mild confusion at her parent, expecting a further statement, but none came. So she turned to Fuuko and shrugged. "Sorry about that. I shall continue my story, as there is still a lot to be relayed." Iroka took another deep breath. "Where was I...? Ah! I remember!

So Kajiya-dono and Kimyou-sama were at loggerheads, while each trying to design a prototype that would shame the efforts of the other. Kajiya-dono aimed to create an artificial intelligence that would be too complex for any shell Kimyou-sama made, while my parent wanted to make an artificial body so advanced that Kajiya'dono's AI would be a waste in such an excellent vessel. Kajiya-dono got there first." Iroka paused, quickly looking at Kimyou, afraid that her latest statement would offend her parent. But Kimyou seemed too deep in their thoughts to even be bothered by the admission that Kajiya had won their arms race. So Iroka continued.

"Problem was, Kajiya-dono actually carried out illegal experimentations on souls in the furthest districts of Rukongai, where people going missing would not be easily noticed by Seireitei. As a result, a number of people died, even as he used their consciousnesses to create the intelligence for Project IROKA. And then he sat back and watched as Kimyou-sama struggled to design a brain that could contain the complexity of this artificial consciousness. Eventually, Kimyou-sama surreptitiously gained access to his files and discovered his dark secret. And then... my parent--" she faltered. But Kimyou suddenly looked up at her. "Continue!"they commanded imperiously.

Iroka gulped. "Kimyou-sama ambushed Kajiya-dono and ate his brain. Literally. My parent has the ability to gain the memories of someone whose brain they consume. But before the ambush, they anonymously sent word to the top-brass of the Gotei of Kajiya-dono's unethical practices. Then they wrote a farewell-suicide note in Kajiya's writing, which surrendered all his assets to my parent. At this point, my parent convinced the top brass that they would be more ethical in their continuation of the IROKA Project, and were thus allowed to continue with their research. Initially, they tried to keep their word, but were met with failure at every turn.

As my parent worked, they realized that just as souls had been sacrificed to generate my consciousness, souls would have to be sacrificed as well to create a body that could house this consciousness. And so, more illegal testings began in the Rukongai, without the knowledge of the Gotei 13. And eventually, Kimyou-sama was able to achieve their aim, but had ended up killing a number of people to do so. The last person to die was the one who had initially borne much of what is now my present body, although this was modified with genetic material from my parent, and a few other sources of which I am not aware, I suspect. But the perfect body was created, and so I was... born.

Now, since the whole aim of the IROKA Project had been to create an army of subhuman soldiers for Seireitei, Kimyou-sama continued their experiments, but their obsession with their work was soon unearthed by investigation squads, which had been secretly engaged with making sure that Project IROKA did not breach any more ethical rules. Discovering my parent's... transgressions, they found Kimyou-sama's journals, which further cemented my parent's guilt. So they were spiritually crippled permanently, and thrown in here. I, for my part, was examined and placed in the Shin'ou Academy, where I managed to graduate, and here I am."

Silence reigned.


Satoshi Fuuko

[Satoshi Fuuko]

"Are ya sayin I don't look smart!?" Fuuko barked at Iroka, though a thin smile quickly spready across her face. "Oi! When I am doin paperwork, I look like a real otaku wtih my readin glasses on! Heh!" Fuuko nodded and glanced over at Kimyou with a grin. With Kimyou seemingly settled in, Fuuko turned her attention back to Iroka as she continued her story. It was... something, that was for sure. 

In fact, Fuuko wasn't exactly sure what to say when silence finally fell over them. She looked at Iroka, who was sweet and innocent and yet, somehow, filled with all of the badness of her two parents inside her. She was a technological marvel and, probably, a crime against nature. The fact that the Gotei 13 just let  her into the academy meant that they had either been fooled by Kimyou and didn't know what Iroka really was or they knew everything and saw no threat to themselves inside of Iroka. 

Fuuko hoped it was the later, but she suspected  it was the former. Fuuko closed her eyes. Suddenly, she could feel some unexpected tears well up at the corners of her eyes. Fuuko was the one who attached herself to Iroka. If something went wrong... would it be her that would have to do something? Fuuko's lip curled up. She wasn't going to think about that now. Her balled fist lashed out at Kimyou. She held back as much as she could, but she still slugged the pinkette in the arm as she hopped up. 

"Yer a reaaaal  piece a shit." Fuuko hissed. "That they let you stay here... you should thank the Soul King every day they let you off easy.." Fuuko growled. She then turned and looked at Iroka. She relaxed her posture and smiled. "Ya know, Sis, a lot of people had ta die ta get me where I am today too." Fuuko said, almost casually. She figured Iroka wouldn't be bothered by the tonal shift. "So, ya see? We have a lot in common!" 

Fuuko stepped forward and put an arm around Iroka and gave her a hug. She then looked back at Kimyou. "Now that I know where Iroka-chan came from, I can probably figure out what's wrong with her." Fuuko said, leering at Kimyou. "So, I guess we can get going, Okasan." Fuuko looked back at Iroka. 'You know, I came here through the cycle, so I didn't have parents. An old Auntie took me in when I arrived, but... even when I was alive... my actual parents died pretty early. I think I was seventeen..." Fuuko shrugged. "I'm startin ta lose those memories. I just remember... it was my fault they died. Then, the day I stopped being a daughter, I also started being a mother." Fuuko closed her eyes. 

"I had to raise Kazuhiko." Fuuko exhaled. She then looked at Kimyou and her rage boiled up again. Her eyes narrowed and she leaped at Kimyou and aimed a few kicks at Iroka's mother. "Take responsibility for your actions, you bastard! I don't care how you feel! When you have to take care of someone, you have a damn obligation to be responsible and show them love and compassion! Even if ya have ta fake it!" 

Munemasa Iroka

[Munemasa Iroka]

Iroka finished her story, and there was some silence, before Fuuko punched Kimyou in the arm. Iroka looked alarmed, and took a step forward, but neither took further action, or said anything. Kimyou, for their part, flinched at the blow, and cradled the struck area. "I'm not thanking anyone for my life of misery," they hissed. "There's nothing to be thankful for, living in this hellhole." Fuuko's attestation to the fact that people had died for her to be where she was presently made Iroka smile mournfully. "We're evildoers in our own rights," she simply said.

In any case, Iroka was glad for the hug, returning the gesture thankfully. She was also quite eager to know how Fuuko was going to figure out what was wrong with her. As the blonde informed Kimyou that they could leave, the pink-haired Shinigami seemed to have a look of regret flash across their face, but they said aloofly, "you know the way out." As Fuuko gave a brief rendition of her own story, Iroka gazed at her with wonder. "Wow! Your life was way worse than mine," she said in admiration. "And you're still such an upstanding person."

And then Fuuko went to kick Kimyou. Iroka cried out and grabbed her friend from behind, wrapping both arms around her. "No, Oni-chan! Please don't!" Kimyou, for their part, simply huddled away from the raging Shinigami, trying to make themselves smaller in order to perhaps better avoid the kicks, or present a smaller target to be hit. "There is no way I can do that," they said. "What do you want me to do? Say I'm sorry? Words don't mean anything. I have been stripped of all agency, so I don't know how I can make anything right. And I don't know how to 'fake it'. So stop asking for ridiculous things."

Iroka, meanwhile was trying to pull Fuuko away. "Kimyou-sama actually did take care of me," she said, trying to mollify the blonde Shinigami. "For a few years between my creation and my discovery by Seireitei, they fed me, clothed me, and gave me a roof over my head. Actually, though, that 'roof' was more like me being locked away, but I reckon it's better than being exposed to the wild regions of the furthest districts of Rukongai." That last part was obviously not very flattering for Kimyou, but Iroka was not very good at concealing information. She tried to steer Fuuko away.

"Before I leave, though, I would like to ask you, Mother: Why do I have one release but two zanpakutou spirits? To the best of my knowledge, the other one does not contribute in any way to my Shikai, but still occupies the space of my inner world. Is it because I was created from the amalgamation of different souls?" There was no answer. But if anyone looked at Kimyou at that moment, they would discover that if the pink-haired Shinigami was naturally pale, at this moment, they would be described as white, like a sheet of paper. Their eyes were wide saucers. And then Kimyou said quietly, "No.... Oh no...."


Satoshi Fuuko

[Satoshi Fuuko]

Fuuko did not try and wrest herself from Iroka's grip when she was restrained. Her intention wasn't to really hurt Kimyou, but the pinkette was pretty insufferable. Fuuko relaxed and leaned against Iroka when she calmed down. She lowered her head and frowned. "The end was..." Fuuko muttered. "The fact that I ended up here instead of Hell says more about all those people I killed than anything else..." She couldn't even remember it clearly, but the intensity of her rage and the pain that was seared into her as she went berserk was something that a lifetime in the Soul Society wouldn't keep out of her head at night. Along with seeing Kazu's face lifelessly staring up at her. 

Her own innerworld would never let her forget that...

Kimyou's words snapped Fuuko back into reality. "Sorry would be a good, fuckin, start!" The blonde spat. "Words do  have meaning! Why don't you say somethin nice  to yer own fuckin daughter and let her decide what she wants to do with those words!" Fuuko narrowed her eyes. "Unless..." Fuuko glanced back at Iroka. "They treated you like shit, Iroka!" Fuuko said as she looked back at her orange haired bestie. "They don't deserve any of the compassion or love you give them. Though, I bet you can't even help it. Did you put that inside of her too? Being unflappable, even in the face of exceptional cruelty? Tch. Like I said, this place is too good for you." 

They had, however, finally gotten to the reason for coming down. Fuuko listened patiently and watched Kimyou's reaction. "So... something crept into her when she was being put together, huh?" Fuuko asked. She narrowed her eyes. "And you know what it is, don't ya? Iroka thinks it's another zan spirit, but I'm not really convinced. Honestly, after hearing about where she came from, I'm not really sure how she is able to wield a zanpakutou, but like she said, it's probably because ya stuffed a buncha souls in her." Fuuko suddenly lifted a hand up. 

"But, before ya answer, I have one more question." She turned and looked back at Iroka. "You were supposed to be designing a throwaway shock trooper, right?" While she spoke, Fuuko slowly circled around behind Iroka. "She ain't very... combat efficient, if ya know what I mean!" Fuuko brought her hands up and gave Iroka's big breasts two quick squeezes. "I think there's more to the story and maybe it has to do with Iroka-san's question as well..." She stepped away from Iroka and looked at Kimyou. "What, exactly, was your endgame with project IROKA?" Fuuko asked. "Not what you were told to do, or what you and Kajiya were working on together." Fuuko brought a hand up to her chin and stroked it. 

"No... I think, from the very beginnin yer intention was to squeeze whatever ya could outta Kajiya, kill him and repurpose project IROKA for your own goals. There's no way someone like you would take on a project like that for its own sake. I don't think ya give a shit about the cycle of rebirth in any kinda altruistic way. And, I bet the thought of makin somethin so ... perfect just ta get sent off ta get murdered by hollows probably sticks in yer craw." Fuuko raised her finger. "In fact, if I were ta wager Ryo on it , I would guess that, to you, Iroka here is worth more to you in parts alone than any actual shinigami and, if you were in charge, you would send a dozen shinigami to die just to keep one Iroka alive, despite how you treat the one and only Iroka." Fuuko glanced at the orangette. 

"I think I have my suspicions about why, but... we're here for Iroka-chan, so, go ahead and answer her question." Fuuko said and motioned to Kimyou.

Munemasa Iroka

[Munemasa Iroka]

"The fact that you ended up in Soul Society, rather than Hell is proof that you've always been a good person," Iroka replied Fuuko. "I know I'm not very smart when it comes to reading people, but I think I know a good person when I see one. I can sense it somehow." It was that purity of the soul Iroka had that allowed her to detect the virtue in others, even if unwittingly. And if she had sensed no such thing in Fuuko, Iroka would have simply avoided her when they met. Even if Fuuko had done things that weren't so virtuous, there was a lot of good in her.

Iroka was not expecting the groping and screamed, wrapping her arms around herself as tightly as possible, as her face reddened. "Oni-chan! That's so improper! One day, I'll die from shame if you continue like this." Kimyou, however, said nothing. Their shock was gone, but in its place was just an empty defeated look. They just stared blankly at Fuuko, as the blonde explained her suspicion about the true purpose of Kimyou regarding Project IROKA. Then they stirred slowly, as though the motion was one that required great effort to perform. A long sigh followed, one that carried the weight of many long years.

"You are right in saying that I would send a dozen Shinigami to die, if it meant keeping Iroka alive," they said, in a voice devoid of life, "As for the purpose, is there really any aside that of a parent's love for their child? I know you might not believe me, but perhaps you will be a little patient with me, and hear my own story. I promise, I shall answer both your questions thereby." From Iroka's pointedly interested reaction, it was obvious that even she did not know the story of the one she called 'Mother'. The carrot-top drew closer and sat down, gazing intently at Kimyou. Kimyou looked at her with those deadened eyes, held her gaze for a moment, then turned to Fuuko.

"I was thrown through the cycle of death and rebirth into the 80th District of Easter Rukongai," they began. "The only advantage I had was my intellect; I was small, weak, frail and not very healthy. And everyone took advantage of me. I learned that only strength matters out there, for those of us unlucky enough to not be in the closer districts of Rukongai. To get by, I aligned myself with a notorious thug, who only took me in after realizing my incredible intelligence. But even then, I was looked down on for being weak and helpless. I helped him plan things, organized his holdings, made him an effective ruler. And what did I get for it? Disdain. Only strength mattered.

I was delighted to find that I had a bit of spiritual pressure, and immediately set my sights on Seireitei. But I could not leave. Even though I was always bullied and disrespected, they refused to let me leave, even though they always said I was useless. So I orchestrated a large, chaotic misunderstanding, which resulted in the deaths of a good number of people, including my former boss. It was amusing, really. As I collected his money and began my journey to Seireitei, I understood that in life, one must fight with all they have, and keep taking until they die. Everyone else is merely a dispensable asset. Relationships were only based on what one could get from another. Altruism was a lie.

If I had hoped Seireitei would prove me wrong, I was disappointed. Everyone wanted to be in the 11th Division, that gathering of hoodlums and muscle-bound imbeciles. Why? Because they were strong! Was someone a mass murderer? If they could pledge their strength to Seireitei, their sins would be forgive, and they would be allowed to wield a sword and murder all they want, as long as Seireitei controlled their hand. I saw how the 11th treated the 4th and 12th Divisions, people who were supposed to be comrades, to have each other's backs. I'd even been on a mission in which the bastard from the 11th that was with us abandoned us to die, because he wanted to fight a strong hollow. I made sure he didn't return to Seireitei, and no one knew. They all thought he wasn't strong enough for the hollow.

In any case, I proceeded to carve my way to the top, not caring whom I cut down to get there. But I lacked strength. My reiatsu was quite weak, and my body frail. So I desired to develop a means to reduce Seireitei's placing value on the strong. If the jobs for the strong, namely: combat, were carried out by drones, perhaps Seireitei would begin to recognize those who didn't have muscles and simply loved to kill. It was around this time that I met Kajiya, and he seemed interested in my vision. There had recently been a relatively secret failed Bount experiment which fortuitously presented much needed raw materials for this endeavor. Thus began Project IROKA.

Due to the atrocities carried out during the Bount experiments, we were expressly warned not to attempt to experiment on human souls, to which we agreed. But Kajiya, interested in one-upping me, eventually did so, because we were in a vanity race, and I had been doing better than he. So he secretly worked on souls in order to get ahead, and he did, but this presented a problem. The intelligence he created was too 'human' for the project; we were trying to make mindless shock-troops, after all. He began to see the intelligence as a daughter, and became thus unwilling to even let me examine it, due to his fear that I would somehow harm it.

Eventually, I found Kajiya's files, and did away with him. I could continue the project. Initially, my goal was simply to design something that would win me great renown and wealth, but on encountering the IROKA intelligence, for the first time in my life, I felt something I have never felt before: the desire to protect it. I interacted with it... with her. She was so curious, so full of life, so accepting and yet complex. I hated Kajiya for making such a perfect thing. She was alive, even though she did not have a physical form. And even though my initial intention was to create a soldier for Seireitei, I could not do it with this one. No matter how much I tried; Soul King knows I tried.

So I decided to make a body for her. But as Iroka mentioned earlier, due to the complexity of this creature, she needed an organic body, not anything we could build in a lab. I dared not show the Gotei 13 this, for they would have refused getting her a suitable body, and may have even destroyed her. I could not have that. So, I decided to make her a body that would be suitable for her, and that would reflect the beauty of her name and persona. Hence I ventured into Rukongai, and captured a number of test subjects, all very attractive, because unlike myself, whom everyone hated once they laid eyes on me, I wanted this one to be loved by all.

But as I designed her body, I realized that she would eventually be in the Gotei 13, which meant high risk of death. She needed to be preserved somehow. So I-- I committed the ultimate crime: I incorporated the essence of a hollow into her body, one that had high-speed regeneration, as I hoped that she would develop similar capabilities." Iroka gave a pained gasp, though she said nothing. Kimyou continued. "She did not, but I'm sure you have noticed that Iroka does not scar. And apparently, she has quite the aptitude for the healing arts, so there's some good that came of that, I suppose."

At this point, Fuuko would notice that even though Kimyou's voice was even, and their eyes remained tired, their cheeks were wet. Tears were running down them. Otherwise, Kimyou's face lacked expression. "But perhaps my greatest transgression was to follow. I am odious, I know this. Even aside my nature, I look like a freak. Everyone that sees me either avoids me, or persecutes me. So I was frightened, frightened that Iroka herself would eventually grow to hate me. Because that's all I really do well: generate hatred. So I tampered with Iroka's programming, in an effort to make her love me. But it marred Kajiya's perfect work, and created a good deal of... errors which manifest in her social skills.

And I hated myself even more and more for this. But Iroka had to love me at all cost. So I spliced some of my DNA into the genetic makeup of the body I was synthesizing, so that we would be genetically related, like a true parent and child, and I could at least pretend I had some right to her love as a result. And I hated myself even more for this, but the only way left to go was down. When I finally uploaded Iroka's consciousness into her body, I kept her locked away, because I was scared someone would hurt her. And as I had intended, she loved me. But I hated myself, because that love was something I had forced.

It is my destiny, I realize, to be hated and trodden underfoot. I had to remedy the situation. Iroka had to hate me. So I maltreated her, so that she would eventually come to detest me. It didn't work." Kimyou's voice finally broke. "And the more I maltreated her, the more she sought my approval. And I felt it would be more painful to show her I loved her, only to get to that inexorable moment when she would hate me, and my love would be dashed against the rocks. So like I always did, I took the selfish route, trying to make her get to hate me, while making sure she was fed and kept safe, as well as I could manage.

It was my preoccupation with keeping Iroka safe that eventually got me careless, and some Shinigami trailed me to my hideout and uncovered my secret. And now, what little power I have has been stripped away and I lost my ability to protect her, but I was hopeful that if Iroka, being beautiful, would perchance catch the eye of someone that could protect her, that would be enough for me. Instead, due to my maltreatment, she strove to get stronger, in order to impress me, and in her search of strength for my sake, has unlocked that aspect of her that was drawn from the hollow. And so, I have sentenced my own child to death, when all I was trying to do was keep her alive.

It is to be expected though. Despite all my posturing as someone great and important and intelligent, I am really a worthless, hateful maggot." Kimyou hung their head as the tears flowed, the picture of shame and dejection. Iroka just stared at them silently, her face a mixture of many emotions. Then she finally said, "Wow, Mother, you seem to have really screwed the pooch this time." And in her voice was the undertone of an emotion most people who knew Iroka had rarely ever seen her express. Anger.


Satoshi Fuuko

OOC: Man, this was some long shit....

[Satoshi Fuuko]

"Thanks, sis." Fuuko said with a smile. As a soldier, it was her duty to kill, but those she did, passed on and continued on into the cycle of life. What they did was necessary, and Fuuko didn't really see it as taking a life, so much as pulling it from a terrible cocoon and sending it back to the stream, where it could be reborn as something much less terrifying. However, getting to Soul Society and becoming a Soul Reaper had weighed on her. At least until she had found Kazuhiko. Still, all that was pushed aside as iroka shrieked. 

'Eheheh, and I get to die happy!" Fuuko added shamelessly. Fuuko had little desire to judge someone based on what they were. To her, a beautiful body was a beautiful body and Fuuko was quite the lecher. She understood there were some boundries between herself and Iroka, because, but not limited to their own sworn oath of sisterhood, but, to Fuuko, that also meant there was some leeway. The blonde would think nothing of bathing with her sister, for example, without making it (too) awkward. At the same time, she was trying to prove a point to Kimyou and if that meant she also got to get a nice squeeze on her bestie's pillows, that was just a bonus. 

However, as quickly as it came, the mood was killed. Kimyou began her own monologue and asked that Fuuko be patient, as if Fuuko was capable of that. And, indeed her patience was tested. Her fists clenched tightly as she listened to the shinigami plead their case. Fuuko wasn't sure if Kimyou was fishing for sympathy or not, but nearly everything that Kimyou said pissed Fuuko off more and more. She understood Kimyou and even sympathized to a degree. Kimyou was clearly scared and that fear mad them make horrible choices, but it was also a bed that Kimyou had made. They could lie in it as far as Fuuko was concerned. It was hard not to interrupt, especially as Kimyou said that she had stuffed a Hollow inside of Iroka. 

Fuuko's heart sank at the thought and her own tears welled up and leaked down her face. She understood the consequences and when Kimyou was finished, she screamed, lunged at Kimyou, grabbed them by the throat and pinned them against the wall. "I don't give a shit what you look like. The reason yer in this position right here, right now ain't because yer weak and I'm strong, it's because yer a FUCKIN IDIOT! I'm really sorry it was shitty fer ya in Rukongai, I really am, but the second you created Iroka, you had a choice..." 

Fuuko squeezed. "And you chose wrong. Every. Single. Time." Fuuko narrowed her eyes. "No... you chose your own feelings instead of compassion. You chose cruelty instead of love. Because you were afraid they would take Iroka-chan away from you? Because you thought the second you showed her an ounce  of fuckin love that she would turn on you? Who the fuck has ever hated someone for lovin them?! What fuckin broke ass brain thought wriggled around inside yer head ta make ya think that!?" 

Fuuko was trembling and let Kimyou go. "Now I get it..." Fuuko said and looked at Iroka. "Now I know why yer here in this place. So you can spend the rest of yer life never knowin what happens to Iroka. As long as I'm alive, I will do everything I can to make sure she doesn't see you." Fuuko spoke while looking at Iroka. "So... Iroka-chan... I hope you understand what I am sayin. Kimyou will never know what's come of you. I think that's only fair. I know yer compassionate, but they had the chance ta take responsibility and they tossed it aside and locked you up instead. All that shit Kimyou said about treatin you like shit  fer yer own sake and for their own compassion? I don't care if you believe it, I would expect that from ya, Iroka-chan, but... you can't let it affect you. That's what I'm sayin. Do you understand?" 


Fuuko sniffled. There were tears still running down her cheeks. Inside her head, she heard a voice that surprised her. 

"Anego... I'm so sorry... but... yer the one she needs. No one else can do what needs to be done..." 





Munemasa Iroka

[Munemasa Iroka]

When Fuuko lunged at Kimyou, Iroka did not move. She simply just stood and watched the proceedings, her expression slightly troubled but otherwise unreadable. But she noticed Fuuko's tears and her expression became even more distraught, though Iroka still said nothing. This was something Iroka had never experienced before. Nobody had ever shed tears for her sake, not until Fuuko. Iroka's silence was simply because she had no words with which she could express what she currently felt: feelings of betrayal, as well as great gratitude. If she had believed that Fuuko was her sister, now she was convinced without a single doubt.

Kimyou for their part, simply choked as Fuuko held them by the throat, not even attempting to struggle as their own tears flowed. When the blonde Shinigami let them go, they crumpled to the floor at Fuuko's feet, eyes gazing silently at the hard, cold earth, as they listened. All pretensions of pride and superiority were gone. Even if Fuuko's words were harsh, they were nothing but the truth. It had been Kimyou's own self-loathing that had wrecked them, it had been their own self-loathing that they had reflected unfairly on Iroka. And only when they realized that the only one with whom they shared any sort of bond, even if twisted and toxic, was in danger of being destroyed due to a direct act of theirs, all the walls they had attempted to build around their frail ego had come crashing down.

But once Fuuko mentioned that she was going to ensure that Kimyou never saw Iroka again, nor knew what had happened to her, the pink-haired Shinigami gazed up sharply at the blonde. There was an unadulterated emotion in their eyes: horror. They tried to speak, but only a pained croak rattled from their throat. The gaunt Shinigami's head dropped again, as though lifting it was a painstaking endeavor. Softly, Kimyou grasped at Fuuko's feet, in an act of supplication, silently pleading for mercy that they knew they didn't deserve. Then they finally found their voice, though it was hoarse and frail. "Please..." was the only word uttered.

Iroka finally moved. Walking up to Fuuko, she hugged her friend quietly, just staying there for a moment. Then she pulled back and looked into Fuuko's eyes. "No one, I repeat, no one, has ever cried for me, Oni-chan," she said softly. "You've no idea how much this means to me... you have no idea how much you've done for me. And yet..." there was a pause, "and yet I'm afraid I will have to refuse your offer to keep me away from Kimyou-sama, even though I absolutely understand why you wish to do so. As a matter of fact, a part of me strongly wants to do so."

She looked down at the groveling Kimyou. "A part of me wants to forget that Kimyou-sama exists. Another part doesn't want to, instead desiring to put them through the same pain they put me through, or even worse." The orange-haired Shinigami exhaled loudly. "But I won't. Because no matter how easy, or satisfying, or just, those paths look, I have realized that those responses are not what Munemasa Iroka would do. All my life I have struggled with having an identity. But as I worked in the Yonbantai, as I interacted with you, Oni-chan, I began to realize that the weird quirks, the atrocious social capacity, the penchant for taking gadgets apart, all these and more, they are who I am."

Iroka smiled at Fuuko. "If I totally cut myself off from Kimyou-sama, that would be a punishment they deserved, but at the same time, it would torture me. Perhaps one advantage to be had about my apparent carelessness is that I do not retain emotional baggage. I throw it away, because I have more important things to think about. Cutting myself off from Kimyou-sama is something I'm certain I can do, but I'm also sure that it will leave behind a deep regret in me that I won't ever be able to outgrow. Because that regret will be coming from who I truly am. Would you advise me to live in such a way that brings me daily regret?

You see, Fuuko-chan, this is one of my greatest weaknesses: I cannot ignore those I pity. If I had felt like this probably some minutes ago, I'd have agreed with you and nevermore attempted to reach out to my parent again. But what I see before me is someone broken, someone in serious pain, and I cannot but feel sorry for them. Kimyou-sama is not lying, presently. I can feel it; such pain as this cannot be feigned. This being the case, turning away from someone whom I feel sorry for will doom me. And it will force me to become something, someone, whom I am not. So, in a sense, my refusal to cut Kimyou-sama off comes from a bit of a selfish angle for me, because I will live better with myself if I did so."

All was silent now, save for the sound of Kimyou sobbing with reckless abandon.


Satoshi Fuuko

[Satoshi Fuuko]

Fuuko's eyes widened when Iroka stepped in and hugged her. She was too busy staring cold daggers at Kimyou. The softness and warmth made Fuuko breathe. She exhaled softly and closed her eyes to let the last of her tears drip from her eyes and she leaned against Iroka and squeezed her back. "Heh." The orangette didn't need to say a thing. Fuuko already knew  what was going to come out of Iroka's lips, more or less. Still, she listened to Iroka's pleas. 

"Kimyou deserves it... but you don't." Fuuko said finally. I knew ya weren't gonna let it happen and I know I couldn't really stop ya..." Fuuko added when Iroka finished. She closed her eyes. "And, yer right. I love ya fer you  and I wouldn't want ya to be anyone or anythin else. If you were, then we wouldn't be sisters." Fuuko added, feeling a sense of pride well up in her. "You should always do whatever the most Munemasa Iroka thing ta do is!" Fuuko chirped with a smile. 

She then looked down at Kimyou and her brow furrowed. "Alright." She said and reached down for Kimyou. She yanked the pink haired shinigami up by the scruff and pulled them to their feet. "Enough of this fuckin sobbin." She said and shoved Kimyou at Iroka. "I want you ta look at what you've done. Take a good, loong look and realize that someway, somehow, you ended up creatin somethin much better than the sum of yer own parts. How a selfless, cruel piece of shit like you  could manage ta make somethin this compassionate and beautiful boggles my fuckin mind, and you should pray to the Soul King that you crafted her! Show some damn pride in yer daughter andgive her some affection fer once!" 

Fuuko nodded. "Sorry, Sis, but I still think Mother is no good. I still think yer bein too nice, but as they say, I ain't gotta like em to love em as far as family is concerned. Maybe you can take that to heart." Fuuko said with a shrug. She let go of Kimyou and brushed her hands down their clothes and crossed her arms. "Anythin else ya need, Sisi?" Fuuko asked. "I have a feelin Kimyou will be much more cooperative now." Fuuko said, staring at the pink haired shinigami. 

"Otherwise, id we're ready to leave, I'd like ta have a word alone." Fuuko raised her hand. "I promise I won't be too rough. I just need ta ask a few personal questions, if ya don't mind. They are still super smart, after all. It would be a waste not to pick their brain." 

Munemasa Iroka

[Munemasa Iroka]

Iroka grinned back, almost wildly, when Fuuko smiled and stated that she should just keep at doing the most 'Munemasa Iroka' things. "Right!" the carrot-top said rather enthusiastically. Even though Iroka had always felt inept, there was what seemed to be a light on the horizon now. For starters, the realization that she was weird for no fault of hers, and the fact that her parent had, after all this while, finally showed signs of remorse, was something she had always hoped to see. Even when she had come into the Nest of Maggots, Iroka had never thought things would turn out the way they did. She was glad Fuuko had come along.

Thinking about it, if Fuuko had not accompanied her, Iroka wondered whether her parent would have been remorseful upon hearing that the inner hollow within Iroka had slowly begun to manifest. Chances were that Kimyou would have probably pretended to not be bothered, only to agonize when Iroka had left. Because in their own twisted way, Kimyou had tried to take care of Iroka, although how they had chosen to do it had been something only an enemy deserved. But having Fuuko around, who had forced Kimyou into facing their past, was kind of like therapy, although a standard therapist would probably not grab their patient by the neck.

Iroka felt weird that she did not feel particularly frightened at the realization that she had a hollow within her soul, a fact that, if revealed to the Gotei 13, could potentially lead to her execution. Most likely, it was because she felt that the long overdue expression of her parent's need for her acknowledgment was like a dream come true. Yes, it had come with bad news, but wasn't that how life was? Not everything came with a hundred percent positivity. It was quite a curious thing though to realize that both Kimyou and Iroka had each been desirous of the other's admiration. Perhaps now, Kimyou could be more honest with her.

As Fuuko pulled up the crying Shinigami to their feet, they hurriedly wiped their cheeks with a ragged sleeve, a cocktail of emotions on the gaunt and haggard face. There was hope, and fear, and most obviously, shame. The expressions momentarily changed to one of alarm, as they felt Fuuko push them towards the orange-haired Shinigami. Obeying Fuuko's demand, they turned and looked at Iroka, perhaps seeing her for the first time in a new light. Then slowly, uncertainly, they held out their hands towards her. There was a pause, and then Iroka turned away. "I said I wouldn't cut you off, Mother; I didn't say I had forgiven you."

Kimyou looked dejected and hung their head sadly, but nodded. "It is fair," they said. "I deserve less." Fuuko's words about liking and loving being interpreted in different ways was something to think about. Iroka wasn't entirely sure that she was going to ever be rough with Kimyou, and even though she would like her relationship to be closer to her parent than it was, the orange-haired girl was just beginning to realize the overwhelming sensation of her own slurry of so many emotions that her brain was processing. Hugging her parent was an alien thought, and Iroka didn't know how todeal with it.

Fuuko's question about whether Iroka was done was met with a gentle nod. "I've actually accomplished much more than I had expected to here," she said. "I'd only wanted to know why I thought I had two zanpakutou spirits, but not only have I done that, it seems to me that a whole new chapter of my life has begun. I don't know how to express my thanks for that, Oni-chan, but I am forever in your debt. I am ready to leave when you are." Kmyou was certainly going to be a lot more cooperative now, but Iroka had no idea what to do with this advantage.

"A word alone? Sure!" the carrot-top answered cheerfully, as she began walking out of earshot, in order to give Fuuko and her parent some privacy. The blonde Shinigami had a question to ask Kimyou, which made Iroka curious. Kimyou was smart, yes, but Fuuko had often acknowledged Iroka's own intelligence. Whatever Fuuko wanted to ask Kimyou was surely something she didn't want Iroka to hear. But it was fine. Iroka trusted Fuuko to the moon and back. Even if she was curious. And the blonde had promised not to be too harsh. Just as she stopped some distance away from the two, that voice piped up in her head, full of scorn and spite. "So you know now what I am, do you? A lot of good that will do you."

Satoshi Fuuko

[Satoshi Fuuko]

Fuuko watched as the two awkwardly exchanged ... whatever they exchanged. Fuuko was pleased that Kimyou was willing to be contrite and that Iroka was also willing to stand her ground. If this had been in the human world, maybe the two could start to mend what was broken little by little. With Kimyou here in the Maggot's Nest, though, Fuuko doubted that things might get any better than this. It was bittersweet. At the very least, Iroka had gotten all the information she had wanted, and then some, apparently. She smiled at Iroka. "I'm glad." Fuuko said with a genuine smile. "But you don't owe me anythin." Fuuko's smile drifted away as her thoughts drifted in. As Iroka stepped away, Fuuko called out.

"Oi! Don't let any of those goons harass ya!"

She gave Iroka few more seconds and then, when she turned around, she slugged Kimyou in the gut. She grabbed Kimyou's arm and leaned in, holding the shinigami up. "I promise that's the last one, and it's for the future." Fuuko leaned in so her lips almost touched Kimyou's ear. "She's got a Hollow in her. You know  what that means, right? Yer smart... I want ya ta put that big brain ta use an help me figure out how ta get rid of it." Fuuko could feel tears welling up inside of her again. 

"I want that thing out of Iroka-chan." Fuuko said firmly. "I don't want ta have to keep that secret." Fuuko closed her eyes. "And since you put it in, you can figure out how to take it out." Fuuko pulled away and looked deep into Kimyou's eyes. "If Iroka-chan becomes uncontrollable. If anyone else finds out and she receives an order of execution, I'll be the one to do it." Fuuko shut her eyes and inhaled as tears dripped from her eyes. "One more piece of responsibility you get ta shirk." Fuuko said with a shaky voice. 

She opened her eyes again. "I accept that burden as her sister, though, and I won't do it unless there's no choice, if I am even capable of doin it." Fuuko narrowed her eyes. "I know how well you succeeded. She doesn't just  have an aptitude fer healin, does she? She never really  gets cuts or bruises like I do. She is always in better shape much quicker than I am and I'm as tough as they get. She was made to be fodder, but what's better than fodder? Fodder that doesn't die. Reusable fodder." 

Fuuko narrowed her eyes. "The world where she has to die and you get to live...Tch. Thinkin about it makes my head hurt. All I know is that if I do have to do it, you had better hope." Fuuko exhaled. "You had better get very  good at convincin' me to let you join her in the next life, because I think lettin you live this life forever knowin what you did is the right punishment and givin you even a sniff of meetin up with Iroka-chan in the next life is a blessin you don't deserve. Now... think about all of this. Mother." 

Munemasa Iroka